If a company’s insurance provider has denied a given employee’s request for short-term disability coverage, then that same provider normally suggests that the denied employee pursue an appeal. Is that the only option available to any workers that get denied long-term disability benefits?
Primary features of the suggested appeal
It is an internal appeal. It makes use of the company’s lower level claims manager.
The attitude of the person that denied the first request would probably be the same as the attitude of the person that gets to make a decision, with respect to the appeal.
An optional approach bypasses the company’s appeal process.
By using this approach, the denied worker does not have to deal with the lower level claims manager. Instead, that same worker’s case gets handed to one of the more senior people within the insurance company. The senior people tend to take any claim more seriously. Hence, the chances for acceptance increase. An injury lawyer in Grande Prairie can guide an employee that wants to try the alternate approach.
Mistakes to avoid, regardless of the option chosen by the denied employee
Do not exaggerate your symptoms. Be honest about how you feel. Any hint of dishonesty weakens your case, and makes it less likely that your second request for long-term disability will be granted.
Do not hesitate to speak with your doctor about getting an appointment with a specialist. A specialist might be able to notice a symptom that was not obvious to your regular doctor. That previously undetected symptom might offer telltale information.
Specialists can also order certain diagnostic tests, such as an imaging study. Sometimes a telltale symptom shows up during such a test. Smart patients make a point of telling their doctor about the appearance of such a symptom.
Do not try to save money by not hiring a lawyer. A personal injury attorney should have information on some useful resources. Lawyers stand ready to track down such resources. Some lawyers have assistants that help them to complete that sort of investigative task.
Lawyers that have assistants doing some of their investigations enjoy more time for reading up on different cases. In that way, they increase their chances for discovering a previous ruling that might be used to support their client’s argument.
Do not feel defeated by the presentation of a challenge from the other side. Lawyers are used to facing such challenges. That is why it helps to hire a lawyer. A good attorney should be familiar with the various options that are available to the challenged client.
Any option seems less scary if an attorney can share some details about that particular approach. Options that no longer appear frightening could aid achievement of the goal.